Beverages, tea, instant, lemon, unsweetened
Whole food · Beverages
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a powdered instant tea mix that dissolves quickly into a bright, tart, and refreshing lemon-flavored drink. The powder itself is a fine, pale yellow granule, and the resulting beverage is a clear, vibrant yellow with a sharp citrus zing. Nutritionally, it's a low-fat, carbohydrate-based drink, primarily providing quick energy from its sugar and carb content.
Calorie split: 9% protein · 91% carbs · 0% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its instant, consistent tartness and the nostalgic comfort of a classic lemon tea flavor. It's a versatile base that can be served hot or cold, and its convenience makes it a staple in many households and offices.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary concern is its high carbohydrate and sugar content relative to its volume, which can contribute to blood sugar spikes if consumed in large quantities. To counteract this, consider sipping it with a protein-rich snack like nuts or yogurt to blunt the glycemic response, or diluting the powder with more water to reduce the sugar concentration per serving.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from carbohydrates.
- Contains a small amount of dietary fiber.
- Low in fat, making it a light beverage option.
- Convenient and fast to prepare.
- Offers a flavorful alternative to plain water.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The powdered form often contains citric acid, which not only enhances the tart lemon flavor but also acts as a preservative, giving the mix an exceptionally long shelf life.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 4.3 g |
| Energy | 345 kcal |
| Energy | 1445 kj |
| Protein | 7.4 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.18 g |
| Ash | 9.6 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 78.5 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 5.0 g |
| Total Sugars | 4.5 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 28.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.75 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 139 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 107 mg |
| Potassium, K | 3453 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 55.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.98 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.33 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 30.7 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 3.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.02 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.56 mg |
| Niacin | 6.2 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 2.6 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.22 mg |
| Folate, total | 61.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 61.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 61.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 66.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.09 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 1794 mg |
| Theobromine | 40.0 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.05 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.12 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.08 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Beverages, carbonated, tonic water — USDA does not publish this profile for Beverages.
| Tryptophan | 0.00 g |
| Threonine | 0.00 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.00 g |
| Leucine | 0.00 g |
| Lysine | 0.00 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.00 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.00 g |
| Valine | 0.00 g |
| Arginine | 0.00 g |
| Histidine | 0.00 g |
| Alanine | 0.00 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glycine | 0.00 g |
| Proline | 0.00 g |
| Serine | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Is instant lemon tea the same as brewing tea and adding lemon?
Not exactly. Instant mixes are pre-blended powders containing tea extract, lemon flavoring, sugar, and often citric acid. Brewing tea from leaves and adding fresh lemon gives you more control over ingredients and often a more nuanced flavor.
Can I use this powder in baking?
Yes, it can be used to add a lemon-tea flavor to cakes, cookies, or frostings. Use it as a dry ingredient, and you may need to adjust the liquid content in the recipe slightly.
Why does my instant lemon tea sometimes taste bitter?
Bitterness can occur if the water used is too hot (over 85°C/185°F), which can scorch the tea components, or if the powder is not fully dissolved. Using slightly cooler water and stirring thoroughly can help.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.45 kcal/g · 9% calories from protein · 5.0 g fiber · 4.5 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.02 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.